State leaders laud Veterans Hall of Fame inductees

JAMES MOSHER

Thursday

Nov 29, 2012 at 12:01 AMNov 29, 2012 at 7:53 PM

State leaders headed by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman paid lengthy tribute Wednesday to 12 men inducted into the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame, including three from New London County.

State leaders headed by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman paid lengthy tribute Wednesday to 12 men inducted into the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame, including three from New London County.

Connecticut has produced 1.2 million military veterans, Malloy told a crowd at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. He cited increased job training programs as among the ways of thanking veterans for their service.

“We have stepped it up a notch in the state of Connecticut,” the governor said. “We need to continue to do more to honor veterans.”

Manuel “Manny” Michael Cardoza Jr., of Preston, Paul Francis Dillon, of Gales Ferry, and Herbert Thomas Schacht, of Quaker Hill, were inducted during an event in which state Veterans Affairs Commissioner Linda Schwartz, of Pawcatuck, was master of ceremonies. Gil Simmons, a Channel 8 meteorologist and Marine Corps veteran, assisted in distributing the awards.

Schwartz, an Air Force veteran, has overseen every one of the induction ceremonies since the Hall of Fame was created by an executive order from then-Gov. M. Jodi Rell in 2005. Schwartz called this year’s event “an act of faith and an act of renewal.”

The Hall of Fame seeks to honor veterans who have made valuable contributions in civilian life, the commisioner said.

“Each of you has displayed a can-do attitude and have stretched beyond self,” Schwartz said.

Paul Dillon Jr., of Griswold, son of the inductee, cited his father’s efforts in Caps for Kids, a program that gives Navy headwear to ill children.

“He does a lot of good work,” the younger Dillon said.

Cardoza and the elder Dillon, who sat next to each other during the ceremony, both said they were glad to have family and friends in attendance.

“It’s great to have so many of my people here,” Cardoza said. “It’s a big day for me.”

Listening to the accomplishments of the inductees was inspiring, Dillon said.

“I’m excited,” he said. “It’s a great class. These guys have done a lot of good things.”

The inductees are “keeping our state and communities strong,” Wyman said.

Cardoza is an Army veteran of the Korean War who worked as a medical technician and attained the rank of corporal. He has been involved in veterans organizations for more than 55 years, including as past commander of the Preston VFW. He has also been on The William W. Backus Hospital board of directors and been involved in health screening and medical processing as a professional and volunteer.

Dillon is a Navy veteran of the Vietnam era who served as a master chief radioman. The Hall of Fame induction notice cites his volunteer work at the Retired Activities Office at the submarine base in Groton.

Schacht is a World War II Army veteran who attained the rank of private first class, technician fifth grade. He left the military in 1946 and has worked with special needs children at Waterford Country School. Other volunteer activities include as a SCORE counselor, AIDS work in Africa, and adoption service in Guatemala.

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